How Trump’s Greenland threats amount to an implicit rejection of the legal principles of Nuremberg

The claim that national security can justify territorial acquisition marks a sharp break from the principles the US championed after World War II.

By: Michael Blake, University of Washington, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: January 26, 2026

Words: 1,136

Last Updated: 1 month, 2 weeks ago

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By Michael Blake, University of Washington

U.S. President Donald Trump has, for the moment, indicated a willingness to abandon his threat to take over Greenland through military force – saying that he prefers negotiation to invasion. He is, however, continuing to assert that the United States ought to acquire ownership of the self-governing territory.

Trump has repeatedly raised the possibility of using military action, against both Greenland and Canada.

These threats were …

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